Pilgrim?

Between the church bells every half hour and my internal alarm clock, I was up at 4:45am this morning. However, our hostel was awesome and really relaxing after a long day. Instead of the normal 20+ beds in a room, Kari and I had our own room with bunk beds. It was the first night I didn't need my ipod to block out the snoring. When I woke up I was so stiff and sore but knew it was important to beat the heat. The group met outside at 5am (IL., Denmark, VA Beach, VCU, Vancouver, and OH.) in the darkness but with headlamps to light our way. It's so different walking with a group of people instead of solo. The VA Beach boys whipped out the iPod speakers and STRAIGHT OUTTA COMPTON was blaring as we watched our steps to avoid tripping while walking along the path in the darkness. Oh so different from my previous solo walks... It turned out to be an overcast day which was a huge bonus for me following a day of extreme heat. I stuck with them past ruins, through a small town, behind a shepherd and a flock of sheep blocking the road, up a steep climb with an amazing view, and down into another village. This was 20k into the walk, and even though it wasn't even 11am, I decided to call it quits and say bye to the group. My blister was back in full swing on the bottom of my foot and the pain was too much to ignore for another 10k. As much as I love everyone I was walking with, it is nice to be on my own again. The hostel isn't the best, the village is nothing fancy, but resting and having nothing to do is pretty awesome.

Today, as in everyday, I was referred to as a pilgrim (or peregrino) from hostel owners, locals, waitors, etc. It's funny because I usually just consider myself a tourist. I mean... I'm wearing a backpack, I'm taking pictures, I send postcards, and I stick out pretty clearly. It was today after my walk when I was talking to someone on Facebook when they told me, "you're a true pilgrim..." and this got me thinking. What is a true pilgrim? What's the difference between a tourist and a pilgrim?

I think both of these people set off on trips, or journeys. But the reason behind going is different. A tourist wants to see new things and bring home a souvenir to prove it. A pilgrim wants to experience new things but without a souvenir to prove it. A pilgrim's journey, or experiences, are the souvenir in itself. It may not be a Tshirt, or something concrete. But they do come home with something for sure. They are changed beyond the tourist because they are seeking more than the tourist seeks. You see, for me at least, what you get out of a vacation or pilgrimage is what you put into it. This Camino could definitely be considered a vacation, but it's not. What makes it a pilgrimage, and what makes me a pilgrim instead of a tourist, is what I am putting into it in hopes of getting something out of it.
So now the question is, what am I putting into this trip? It's hard to put into words but it's giving this journey up to God. I believe I'm doing this for a reason, even if that is yet to be determined exactly. Each day I pray for God to be with me and to open my eyes to new things and people and experiences. I try to see God in every one and every thing. I read about the history of this pilgrimage and seeing the sights makes it all come to life. The ancient ruins, the Roman bridges, the old churches, cathedrals, monasteries, and convents are all remarkable to see but even more incredible to think about their past and those who came before. I'm learning, I'm experiencing, I'm on a religious quest, and therefore I'm a pilgrim. Note: I will be getting a Tshirt at the end... But that won't be the only thing I take away...

It's not just on a specific trip that one can be considered a pilgrim or a tourist. Think about it... In our everyday lives we can easily live as tourists or pilgrims. It's important to consider what you are putting into your life and what you want out of it. That will help you see if you are a pilgrim or a tourist. For me, the important thing will be to take what I have learned here and not just bring it home with me. But instead, I need to bring it home AND keep it a part of who I am. It's easy to pray and develop a strong relationship with God when you're in the middle of no where and walking alone for hours. The challenge will be when my life gets crazy again to still be a pilgrim on a quest for God each day of my life.

Sent from my iPad